Christmas Bus Tours in London: A Festive Guide
Trying to choose between the many Christmas bus tours London has on offer? Every festive season, Brigit's Bakery transforms its fleet of vintage Routemasters into a range of magical experiences - from afternoon tea with a Grinch-y twist to an open-top ride beneath the city's twinkling lights. This guide walks you through each one, so you can find the festive tour that suits your family and friends, or your ideal night out.
What are the best Christmas bus tours in London?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you're after. Travelling with toddlers? A gentle, character-led tour will win every time. Looking for a grown-up evening after dinner? An open-top ride with a glass of bubbly is hard to beat. Here are the festive experiences we offer, for you to compare.
Classic Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Our original festive favourite, and an award-winning one at that. Settle into a beautifully decorated vintage bus and enjoy a full Christmas afternoon tea while gliding past London's most iconic landmarks. If seeing the lights is your priority, the 15:00, 17:00 and 17:30 departures roll along a special Regent Street route once the sun goes down. Earlier tours still pass the displays, but in daylight.
The festive route weaves down Park Lane, around Cavendish Square and along Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus, before finishing at Trafalgar Square - home to what may be the most impressive Christmas tree in the whole city. It's a wonderfully relaxed way to soak up the season, with a warm drink in hand and the city sparkling past your window.
Traditional, Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal and Gluten-free menus are all available. For the full menu, timings and booking, visit our London Christmas Lights Bus Tour page.
Sparkling Christmas Lights Open Top Bus Tour - NEW for this year!
Our newest experience is all about the lights. Hop aboard an open-top Routemaster and take in the festive glow from the best seat in the city - in the open air, with a complimentary glass of Silverhand bubbly in hand. It's a 60-minute ride past the Regent Street angels, the Bond Street installations, and the Trafalgar Square tree, plus the famous window displays at Liberty and Hamleys.
There's a live entertainer on board too, bringing Christmas games, sing-alongs and plenty of festive cheer as you roll along. The bubbly comes courtesy of Silverhand Estate, an award-winning English producer whose wines are made from organically grown grapes on the country's largest carbon-negative vineyard.
Because it runs later into the evening, it's the perfect way to round off a day of shopping or continue the fun after a meal out. Note there's no afternoon tea on this one - it's purely about the sparkle! Ages 5+ (18+ with ID for the bubbly). See the Sparkling Christmas Lights Open Top Bus Tour details and book.
Cat in the Hat Afternoon Tea Bus Tour - NEW for this year!
A whimsical, Dr. Seuss-inspired adventure for families, suitable for ages 4 and up. Expect playful games, a themed afternoon tea full of sweet and savoury treats, and plenty of giggles with our onboard team. During specific dates, the later departures also catch London's Christmas lights twinkling overhead.
Every little guest takes home a limited-edition Cat in the Hat travel cup as a keepsake, and there are takeaway boxes for any treats too good to leave behind. Between the storybook theme, the mischief and the landmarks rolling past, it's a real treat for children and grown-ups alike. Sip on premium Birchall teas, a hot chocolate, or add a glass of bubbly to make it extra festive. Explore the Cat in the Hat menu and book.
Grinchmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Back by popular demand, this cheeky, Grinch-themed tour serves an exclusive menu with a real sense of humour. Think a 'Pucker up & eat it!' spinach quiche and an 'I hate Xmas' chocolate cupcake among the delights! Seats are on the upper deck only of our classic Routemaster, so it feels wonderfully exclusive.
It's a brilliant choice for adults and older children who fancy something with a bit more character than a traditional tour. Book the 17:30 departure and you'll take in the wonderful Regent Street lights alongside landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. All the usual dietary options are catered for - check the Grinchmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour menu and book here.
Paddington Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
The paw-fect festive treat for little cubs. Each table has a built-in screen showing a Paddington-guided animation of the tour, featuring the nation's favourite bear and the lovely Mrs Bird - so children are entertained from start to finish.
The menu, naturally, stars the best marmalade sandwich in town, alongside plenty of other festive treats. It's a magical way to share a Christmas story with younger children while the city drifts past, all decked out for the season. Book the 17:30 tour to enjoy the Regent Street lights at their twinkling best. All dietary requirements are covered - see the Paddington Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea Bus Tour menu and book.
Peppa Pig Christmas Bus Tour
Made for your littlest ones, this tour offers a festive adventure on built-in screens, with a specially created Christmas menu and plenty of sing-along fun to keep small passengers giggling and joining in.
With festive decorations throughout the bus and a menu designed for children and grown-ups alike, it's a lovely first taste of a Christmas outing for families with toddlers. One thing to note: this tour runs in the earlier hours, so the Christmas lights won't be visible - it's about the characters and the festive cheer rather than the illuminations. Find out more about the Peppa Pig Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour and book.
PAW Patrol Christmas Lights Bus Tour
The newest addition to our family fleet sends children on a mission to help Mayor Goodway find Chickaletta. Every table has a mission screen with puzzles and challenges, and there's a themed Christmas afternoon tea with treats like Skye's coconut snowball truffle. This one takes in the King's Road lights, the Trafalgar Square tree, and the Battersea Power Station display. Dietary options available - see the Paw Patrol Christmas Lights Bus Tour menu and book.
Plan your route: maps and stops
Want to see exactly where each tour goes and which landmarks you'll spot? Take a look at our Christmas bus tour maps and routes guide for a full breakdown.
When are the Christmas lights being lit in London?
London dresses up for the festive season across November and December. Oxford Street traditionally leads the way in early November, with special offers and live music in nearby stores. Carnaby Street, Bond Street, St Christopher's Place, Covent Garden, Regent Street and Marylebone High Street follow soon after. The Shard and Trafalgar Square usually add to the sparkle in early December.
Switch-on dates shift slightly each year, so it's worth keeping an eye out if you want to catch a display being lit for the first time.
Where to see London's Christmas lights and displays
If you're light-spotting on foot as well as by bus, a few spots are unmissable. Oxford Street offers the most dazzling display, while Regent Street is famous for its angel-like lights with wings spreading across the road. Bond Street and Carnaby Street are both worth a wander too. And don't forget Covent Garden, home to Brigit's Bakery, where the piazza turns into a beautiful winter wonderland from mid-November.
The festive window displays at Harrods and Selfridges are a treat as well - and every one of our bus tours passes Harrods along the way.
For a bigger day out, Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland opens mid-November. Families are also spoilt for choice with the Alice-in-Wonderland display at Southwark Park, the illuminated trail at Syon Park's Enchanted Woodland, Christmas at Kew Gardens, and the markets and shows along the Southbank.
FAQs about Christmas bus tours in London
What are some good Christmas tours in London?
It depends who you're travelling with. For families with young children, our Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, Paddington, Grinchmas, and Cat in the Hat tours are ideal. For adults, the Sparkling Open Top tour is set to become a firm favourite, and the Classic Christmas Lights afternoon tea tour suits just about everyone.
Is there a Christmas lights bus tour in London in 2026?
Yes. Our festive tours run each year across the Christmas season, roughly from mid-November into early January. Exact dates vary by tour, so check the relevant tour page for this year's schedule.
Which tours actually see the Christmas lights?
The later departures are your best bet. On the Classic tour, the 15:00, 17:00 and 17:30 slots take in the illuminations, and the Sparkling Open Top tour runs into the evening specifically for the lights. The Grinchmas and Paddington tours also catch them. All of the tours will take in the various displays and Christmas Lights and decorations and are a wonderfully festive way to enjoy London during the holiday season.
Do the tours cater for dietary requirements?
Yes. Traditional, Vegan, Vegetarian, Halal and Gluten-free menus are available across our afternoon tea tours. Just let us know your requirements when you book.
Ready to plan your festive outing?
However you like to celebrate, there's a Brigit's Bakery Christmas bus tour to match. Browse all our Christmas bus tours and book your place today.
Which Christmas bus tour in London will you book this year?
